Page 40 of Hell Hath No Fury

Antonio

She’snotgoingtoshow.

I’ve been pacing this same spot for what feels like an hour. Of course, the fact that I arrived an hour early may be a big part of that reason, but still, she’s not going to show.

Nervousness pools in my stomach. I’m fucking sweating.

“For fuck’s sake, Antonio, get a fucking grip,” I mutter, forcing myself to take a few calming breaths. “Of course, she’ll show up. It’s not like she has anywhere to go.”

Dread washes over me like an icy bath. Because Lilith Ferro always has someplace to go.

I glance at my watch, calculating the number of hours since brunch and curse softly. For all I know, she’s spent the last few hours plotting her escape.

Cursing even more loudly, I turn back toward the main house, but I’ve only taken a few steps when I see her. She’s standing on the far side of the pool, staring at me. I stare back, heart pounding in my chest.

I move to go to her but then stop myself, shoving my hands in my pockets and focusing on cooling my jets. She slowly walks closer, and I scan her up and down, smiling because it’s obvious Agatha and Carolina chose her outfit. Not that she doesn’t look stunning, but frankly, she would look stunning in a paper bag.

It only takes her a few moments to reach me, and then she stands in front of me, her hands clasped, those bright blue eyes staring up at me questioningly.

There’s something different about her, and it only takes me a few moments to realize what she’s done. “Your hair.”

She smiles, one of her hands moving up to touch her hair, which was platinum earlier this morning and is now back to its natural ash-blonde. Her smile fades, a small frown on her brows as she looks away. “Do you like it?”

I step into her, touching my fingertips to her chin, applying pressure until her head lifts and her eyes once again meet mine. “Well, I love it. But the real question is, do you?”

Her breath hitches. She presses her lips together, her eyes suddenly turning glassy. But she says nothing; she only nods slightly. I release her chin, my hand moving to grip one of hers loosely. “I was starting to worry you wouldn’t show.”

She raises her brows at me, her lips twitching, and then her free hand moves to my wrist, where she turns my watch, peering at the face. “I’m right on time.”

I smile sheepishly as I admit, “Well, I may have been a tad early.”

“Oh, really? How early?”

I shrug, not really wanting to answer, but her curious gaze finally has me replying, “Maybe an hour or so.”

Her lips curve up, and then she laughs. “Antonio Rossi. Are you trying to say you’re nervous?”

“Oh, hugely. I don’t know if I’ve ever been this nervous about anything.”

She swats me on the arm with her hand, shaking her head. “I can’t imagine why.”

“Aren’t we always the most scared of losing what means the most to us?”

Again, she swats me on the arm. “Oh, stop. Surely, there are more important things in your life than me.”

“No. Never,” I reply without hesitation. My hands move to cup her face, not allowing her to look away as I say, “You’re it, Lilith. This is it. It’s me and you until the end of our days.”

Her hands grip my wrists, and she leans into me as she whispers, “How can you be so sure?”

“I’ve been sure for my entire life.”

“How can you say that? After everything—”

“Stop that,” I interrupt harshly. “We no longer live in the past. We no longer let our past control us. We never know how much time we have left on this earth, and I know I want to spend whatever time I have left with you.”

“And what if I refuse?”

I laugh, shaking my head at her stubbornness. “Then I guess I’ll spend the rest of my days trying to change your mind.”

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